A raw and eye opening account of what it’s like to experience a psychotic break. The subtitle of the book is “To the Edge of Insanity and Back” and I wish there was more emphasis on the “and Back”. It would be interesting to read more about how Coast came to terms with his diagnosis and how he learnt to live with it.

Coast paints a scary picture of what psychosis looks like and how impactful it can be on them and their families. His story shows just how debilitating mental illness can truly be. Coast shares facts about mental illness and includes his own story, which paints a fuller picture of the devastating impacts behind these illnesses. He also shares how God impacted his journey and gave him the courage to share his story, which I thought was a wonderful touch to this story.

Pardon My Psychosis attempts to shed light on the complex and often misunderstood experience of living with bipolar disorder. However, despite its important subject matter, the book fell short in several significant ways.

Firstly, the memoir’s heavy focus on religion was overwhelming and detracted from the central theme of mental health. While spirituality can be a crucial aspect of one’s journey, the extensive religious discourse felt preachy and out of place. This overshadowed the personal insights and experiences that are typically expected in a memoir about bipolar disorder.

Moreover, the writing itself was mediocre at best. The narrative lacked cohesion, often meandering into long, disjointed passages that felt more like a rambling manifesto than a structured memoir. This made it difficult to stay engaged and empathize with the author’s journey.

In conclusion, while the book had the potential to offer valuable perspectives on living with bipolar disorder, its excessive religious content and mediocre writing ultimately made it a disappointing read.

I read this whilst on a psychiatric unit due to PTSD. Whilst I have never experienced psychosis, I have met many other patients going through it and I can’t begin to imagine how terrifying it must be. It was really interesting to see the inner thoughts of someone experiencing psychosis and was a really thought provoking read. It was also nice to see the author including experience with his faith and how God was working the good throughout his journey - something that’s hard to do at times!

It's hard to put into words what kind of book this is other than truely vulnerable. James being able to write about truly the scariest moment in his life to hopefully help anyone else who has been through it or has family going through it is just an act of bravory. The fear of putting himself back there and hoping he doesnt trigger anything doest stop him from being brutally honest and so detailed in his writing.

This book took me a long time to get into and took a lot to draw me back on. It was a brave memoir by the author who had an episode of psychosis and struggles daily to keep it at bay with medications. It’s an important memoir in combatting the stigma surrounding mental illness. While I appreciated the works for the man’s experience, the run on sentences, long chapters and so much bouncing around made it difficult.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this memoir in exchange for my honest review.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and James Coast in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book was a wild ride. The author James suffered manic episodes, where he believed that God was sending him secret messages using everyday objects. It took an episode at work for people to realise that something was very wrong. After this episode he went to a psych ward where he met an interesting cast of characters. In the end, he was finally diagnosed, put on proper medication and is now thriving. I liked that this book gave people a window in what goes on in the mind of a person in a manic episode and he also provided some resources at the end of the book to help family and friends to get help for their loved ones. I think that the biggest takeaway from this book is just because you have been diagnosed with a mental illness doesn't make you less of a person and taking medication for mental illness should not be taboo (some religions assume that faith/ religion alone heals everything, but there is a need to combine faith and medicine for the most positive results).

I would recommend this book to people who want to know more about mental illness.

An interesting read and even a few a-ha moments for me as, similarly to the author, before I really began to deeply struggle with my own bout of postpartum depression and anxiety I was feeling so spiritually sound...and then the devil came in for an attack and I am ever thankful I was as deeply rooted in scripture as I had been.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I will say..I struggled reading this. Not only due to the rawness of the content, but in just a general reader way. The writing jumps around a LOT, and things happen that jump back and forth, and kept me wondering what had happened most of the time ( including the chapters wherein psychosis is setting in; I understand seeing things that are not actually occurring but that hadn’t been the issue, I mean just from the jumping around from what happens at work and interactions with co-workers; I was confused as no one had seen any of the signs prior despite EVERYTHING he said and did from what we see ). As a non-religious person, the religious themes and some of it had gone over my head; I don’t typically read memoir either but Coasts’ book had caught my eye.

Overall a really interesting and raw memoir diving in Coasts’ struggle with mental illness and his psychosis; if you’re interested in psychology I definitely recommend this, but overall was not a book I’d typically pick up on my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book officially releases on 3/19/24!

This book is a memoir that details the author’s struggles with mental illness. Although this book provides a fascinating glimpse into these struggles as someone who is interested in psychology, the undertones of this book were not for me as a reader. This is a pretty quick read, however, and I would generally recommend this to anyone interested in psychology. Please check any relevant trigger warnings before picking this one up!

Pardon my psychosis was well written. Having worked with mental illness clients this book spoke to the volume of trouble that many people face and how they deal with it on a daily basis. James does an excellent job describing a psychotic breakdown.

“A once normal life now shattered like a piece of defective pottery at the hands of its distraught maker. How did I break so easily? Or better yet, why did I break so thoroughly?”

Pardon My Psychosis takes you through James’ journey of a psychotic break. Told through his perspective, it’s an eye opener of a story, illustrating just how scary and debilitating mental illness can be. As well as his story, there’s informative facts about bipolar disorder, aiming to broaden the readers understanding of the illness. It’s nice to read some positives, like how creative those with bipolar are, and not just the heart wrenching negative statistics.

“What I saw, heard, and felt bounced between a beautiful fairytale and the most heart-pounding nightmare imaginable. Manic is no respector of persons, but it was a fuel for the wildest ride I’ve ever taken”

As someone who has a psychotic break, this was so moving to read. I sympathised with James and completely understand that it all starts with the lack of sleep! The constant questioning of your mood, the medication “tweaks”, the embarrassment and constant replaying of your behaviour. It’s exhausting. I was glad the author included the aftermath and getting better, and not just the “juicy” bits of the mania itself.

After reading this, I feel validated that I’m not the only one and took comfort in the bible extracts, even though I’m not religious.

I’m so proud of James for having the courage to write, and publish, his story. Thank you for advocating for those of us that have experienced psychosis.

“Even with the medication, there is no guarantee it won’t happen again. Even when the clouds obscure the moon, it remains in the sky. Patiently waiting in the background for a tiny crack to gain a foothold and burst forth again”

Thank you to NetGalley and James Coast for my advanced copy.

"God put it on my heart to create a bridge of understanding between those who suffer and those who have never seen the pain below the surface of a hurting smile."

After a few introductory paragraphs, Pardon My Psychosis dives directly into the narrative that will comprise all but one of the book’s sixteen chapters. The story reads almost like a stream of consciousness, relating the experience of a continuous stretch of time from the first hints of mental illness all the way to Coast’s eventual return to his everyday life with the aid of ongoing psychiatric treatment. Along the way, we see his demons appear before his eyes, we hear the thoughts that arise of “God’s” grand plan for Coast as an agent of his will, and we feel his joy and fear as he tries to understand what implications that plan has for what he should do in his work, family, and church life.

What stands out in this book is the storytelling. From the first chapter, the author immerses you in his experience with first-person narration and complete focus on the events he’s describing. The only digressions are those he experienced in the course of his delusions, and they contribute to the feeling that this story is an authentic account of what happened. When the present-day, recovered James slips his thoughts in, it's often to make a subtly humorous quip before falling effortlessly back into the stream of events. He really is quite funny, and tasteful in his sparing application of humor where appropriate.

While he's a great storyteller, I wouldn't describe Coast as a great writer. The prose isn't particularly good, with occasional awkward word choice (“caffeine-free coffee” instead of “decaf”?) and strange syntax. That said, one could argue that the simplicity of the writing makes the story more accessible to, for example, younger audiences. It wasn't what I've come to expect from memoir in general, though.

Judging from the blurb and the first few paragraphs, I had expected much more analysis and reflection on these experiences than there actually was. In hindsight, I think saving the analysis for the final chapter was a good choice, though perhaps the marketing copy should have focused more on the narrative portion of the book to reflect that. Another impression one might get from this book’s marketing is that it's exclusively suited for a Christian audience. I think anyone broadly interested in the experience of mental illness would benefit from reading this firsthand account of mania and psychosis, provided they aren't dissuaded by the religious content of that psychosis.

If you're interested in the lived experience of severe mental illness, Pardon My Psychosis is definitely worth picking up. Its flaws are more than outweighed by the immersiveness and authenticity with which Coast presents his experience. If the details of serious mental illness aren't something you're particularly interested in, it may be best to seek out another book.

I received free access to an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very well written memoir. James lets you into his experience with psychosis due to Bipolar disorder. This is a story that gives the insight of what it is like struggling with psychosis and how it affects your loved ones. His christian faith helped him through alot with his experiences.

It is really an eye opener and i am glad he told his story.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review.

*4.5

This memoir is brilliantly written and captivating. As a health professional who works with mental health patients, it always fascinates me when I am given an insight into their minds and how they work. Coast provides us with an excellent in-depth recount of his personal journey of his increasing paranoia and psychotic break that led him to a stay in a mental facility and, eventually, the diagnosis of Bipolar I with severe psychosis. We get to read about his thoughts and concerns, in addition to his strong connection with the Lord. It is amazing to see how the human mind works in strange and wonderful ways but also how strong a person can be.

"Pardon My Psychosis" by James Coast is a deeply moving and courageous memoir that offers readers a rare glimpse into the tumultuous journey of living with psychosis. Coast's candid and unflinching account of his own experiences with mental illness is both raw and enlightening, providing valuable insights into a topic often shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding.

One of the most compelling aspects of "Pardon My Psychosis" is Coast's willingness to share his story with honesty and vulnerability. Through his vivid storytelling and introspective reflections, he invites readers into his world, allowing them to witness the highs and lows of his journey with empathy and compassion. Coast's narrative is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, showcasing the strength it takes to confront and overcome the challenges of mental illness.

Coast's writing style is engaging and heartfelt, drawing readers in with his authentic voice and keen observational skills. He captures the nuances of his experiences with psychosis with remarkable clarity, painting a vivid picture of the thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that accompany this often-misunderstood condition. His ability to convey the complexity of his inner world with such depth and insight is truly remarkable.

Moreover, "Pardon My Psychosis" is not just a memoir; it's also a call to action for greater understanding and empathy towards those living with mental illness. Coast challenges societal misconceptions and stereotypes about psychosis, offering a powerful reminder of the humanity that lies beneath the symptoms. His story serves as a beacon of hope for others struggling with similar challenges, showing that it is possible to find healing and meaning in the midst of adversity.

The book is also notable for its message of self-acceptance and empowerment. Coast's journey towards self-discovery and self-compassion is a central theme throughout the memoir, inspiring readers to embrace their own vulnerabilities and embrace their unique journey towards healing and wholeness. His story is a testament to the transformative power of self-awareness and self-acceptance, offering readers a roadmap for navigating their own struggles with mental illness.

In conclusion, "Pardon My Psychosis" by James Coast is a courageous and inspiring memoir that sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of living with psychosis. Coast's storytelling prowess, combined with his profound insights and unwavering honesty, makes for a compelling read that will leave a lasting impact on readers. His message of resilience, hope, and self-acceptance is a beacon of light for anyone grappling with mental illness, reminding them that they are not alone and that healing is possible.

Coast has written something real, and for that I give him credit. The need to speak candidly and wholistically on subjects such as the one at hand has never been greater, and Coast speaks into that need with boldness.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book is a memoir telling about an experience with psychosis. As a mental health provider, I hear many people tell me about the thoughts they have but they are just brief glimpses into the illness. This book enables the reader to see the progression as well as the recovery in a very detailed way. I recommend this book for everyone who wants to learn more about psychosis, the generally curious as well as clinicians.

Disturbing and dark.
At age 40, James was diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder after a sudden psychotic break. The life-altering experience has led him to pursue his passion for writing to inform, inspire, and provide hope to those navigating a mental illness or know someone who is. He is also the founder of Voicelesstovictory.org, a place where mental health and ministry meet.

I was deeply disturbed reading the author’s personal journey through psychosis. I’m familiar with the disorder, bi-polar I, after witnessing it first hand some years ago with a work colleague. Nothing can prepare you for something like that. In Coast’s detailed description the hallucinations he endured were terrifying to read about, and the way in which it affected his close relationships left me feeling awful for him. It’s a thought-provoking memoir that raises awareness about mental illness, and an important book, but it’s not a light read.

3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy first hand accounts of mental illness, dark topics, and heartfelt stories.

The author describes the story of his psychotic break. This took the form of an insidious religious mania in which he believed he was chosen to wage a war against evil, that built up over time to the point of hospitalization (which he interpreted as the Rapture). This was such a compelling book, as harrowing as any fictional horror story of someone fighting demons would be, maybe more so since this was a real person's experience, regardless of the fact that it was hallucination. I could not put it down. As a note, there is of course a lot of talk about religion and prayer and so on, as that was the focus of his psychosis, but it was not a preachy book and absolutely should put off anyone who is not religious. Not entirely a spoiler as such, but I was kind of shocked when Coast had himself released from the hospital, and his wife noted he'd only been there for two days! Through all that he experienced and described, it felt even to the reader as if it had been weeks. I really enjoyed this book, though I am sorry that it was at the expense of the author's mental health and was glad to read by the end that he seems to be doing well. 5 stars